EPS vs.

XPS
Apples-to-Apples Comparison of Rigid Foam Insulation

Insulation

Image is nice but performance is what really matters. Understanding the differences between
the types of rigid foam insulation can save you up-front material cost and improve energy
performance for the life of the building. An evaluation of Foam-Control® Plus+® expanded
polystyrene (EPS) insulation and extruded polystyrene (XPS) will help you choose the right rigid
foam insulation for your project.

Foam-Control® Plus+® is an industry leading architectural grade EPS insulation with a high
compressive strength and high R-Value. It’s designed to give architects, designers, and
contractors all of the benefits of a high quality insulation: strength + energy efficiency + moisture
resistance, bundled together to equal a budget friendly product that will help keep project costs on
track.

Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Extruded Polystyrene (XPS)

Raw Material
Polystyrene resin Polystyrene resin
Manufacturing Process
Plastic resin is expanded, then molded to form a Plastic resin is liquefied, then extruded through
closed-cell material that uses trapped air as its a die to form a closed-cell material that uses
insulating medium. trapped air as its insulating medium.
Compressive Strengths
15, 25, 40, 60 psi 15, 25, 40, 60, 100 psi
R-Value & Energy Efficiency
Foam-Control® Plus+® 250 is R-4.8 per inch at XPS is R-5.4 per inch at 40°F and R-5.0 per
40°F and R-4.4 per inch at 75°F. inch at 75°F.
R-Value Warranty
50-Year R-Value Warranty. 50-Year R-Value Warranty.

LEADING THE INDUSTRY IN EPS MANUFACTURING

EPS vs. XPS
Apples-to-Apples Comparison of Rigid Foam Insulation

Insulation

Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Extruded Polystyrene (XPS)

Moisture Performance in 15-Year Real World Test
(EPS & XPS side-by-side on the same building)
Excavated after 15-years as a below-grade Excavated after 15-years as a below-grade
foundation insulation, the EPS had retained 94% foundation insulation, XPS only retained 52%
of its published R-value and contained only 4.8% of its published R-value and contained higher
moisture content. The R-value at the time of moisture content of 18.9%. The R-value at the
excavation showed that EPS is less affected by time of excavation reflected that XPS is greatly
moisture content than XPS. affected by exposure to moisture.
Permeability
Higher rate of permeability allows Foam- Lower rate of permeability delays the drying
Control® Plus+® to expel moisture faster and process and results in greater time to recover lost
maintain R-value. R-value when exposed to moisture.
Recycled Content
Contains up to 15% recycled content. ACH Has limited amounts of recycled content. Not
Foam Technologies recycled 6.4 million pounds offered in all products.
of EPS in 2014.
Environment & Sustainability
EPS has never contained HFCs, CFCs, XPS generally contains HFCs such as HFC
HCFCs, formaldehyde, or color dies. The 134a. HFCs are harmful to the environment.
natural color of polystyrene rigid foam is XPS also contains color dies, such as pink,
white. blue or green to brand & market their product.
Constructability
Widths: 8”, 12” 16”, 24”, 36”, or 48” Widths: 16”, 24” or 48”
Lengths: 2’, 4’, 8’, 9’, 10’ or 16’ Lengths: 8’
Thicknesses: ½” up to 36” in any variation. Thicknesses: ¾”, 1”, 1-½”, 2”, or 3”
Variety of R-Values in single sheet thicknesses. Limited sheet thicknesses for R-Values.
Testing, Codification, Certification
ASTM C578, “Standard Specification for Rigid ASTM C578, “Standard Specification for Rigid
Cellular Polystyrene Thermal Insulation.” Is Cellular Polystyrene Thermal Insulation.” Is
monitored for quality control by UL and is code monitored for quality control and is code
approved by the International Code Council approved by the International Code Council
Evaluation Service and UL ER 11812-01. Evaluation Service.
Cost
At equal R-values Foam-Control Plus+, costs At equal R-Values, costs 10-30% more.
10-30% less.
Which rigid foam insulation would you choose?

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Plus+ is a trademark of ACH Foam

®

Technologies, Denver, CO.

www.achfoam.com Foam-Control® is a trademark of AFM

Corporation, Lakeville, MN.

Copyright ©2013 ACH Foam Technologies.

All rights reserved. Printed in USA.

Rev: ARC22-11/15